Apparatus for photographing checks, etc.



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zwow Jan. '18, 1927.

J.J.KAPLAN APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING CH CKS, ETC

Filed June 15' 1925 Q/(zco cfffa z/Zazv yWWV Jan. 18,1927.

J.J.KAPLAN APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING CHECKS, ETC

Filed June 15 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1772/ 671/207" @005 JEQjJZa70 Jan. 18,1927. 1,614,619

J. J. KAPLAN APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING CHECKS, ETC

Filed June 15 ,925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 59W ax,

Q4 ZZj (5 Jan. 18 1927.

J. J. KAPLAN APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING CHECKS, ETC

Filed June 15 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [7a venior Ja /c03 JZi a/p Zan/ wmwayfla g x R w 0 ww ww Patented Jan. 18, 1927. V

UNITED; STATES J'AUUB- J. KAPLAN, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.-

'uram'rus ronrnoroeaarnme c mcxs, me.

I Application filed June. 15, 1925. Serial 11 .37,!)09.

This invention relates toan apparatus for recording an impression of both sides of a large quantity of checks or other, articles to be kept as a permanent record on a moving picture film or other'photographic film. It frequently happens that banks are subject to embarrassmentv and liability d'ueto the loss of checks, that have been paid, through fraudulent destruction 7 of forged instruments, or the carelessness of messengers or others in the regular channelsof business. A photographic record showing a picture of both sides of every cancelled and paid check obviously constitutes excellent evidence of payment-and wouldnecessaril protect the bank against undue liability. eretofore the daily volume 'of checks passing through a bank has rendered it impossible to secure photographic copies thereof due to the fact that the known methods for photographing such a quantity were too crude and clumsy to render it practical or even possible. As a result the banks have. little evidence of. a convincing nature to show payment of checks that have become lost, since in the ordinary course of banking practice the bank gives up to its depositors or others the original vouchers which justify its payment. Objects of this invention therefore are to provide an apparatus whereby a large volume of checks can be photographed on both sides with remarkable dispatch and with lit- 7 tle labor; to rovide' arr apparatus whereby a quantity checks are conveyedalong a predetermined pathway and simultaneously and alternately reversed,,passing beneath the focal lens of a moving picture camera or other photographic instrument whereby a picture of each side of every check is obtained.. It is of course to be understood that this invention is not limited to photographing checks but any article containing matter on bothsides which itis desired to reproduce comes within the purview of the invention.

For purposes of illustration the invention.

is shown in theaccompanying drawings in x Fig. 1 is a top plan of the apparatus for photographing bothsides of checks or other articles; A Fig.'2 is a sectionon the line 2-2 of Fig.3;.' J, I Fig. 3' 'ls a plan view of a plate with its pivoted shaft'shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a section of the-plate shown dn Fig.3; 1 V

' shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. I 3 showing the valve mechanism in open 130- sition;

Fig. 6.is a view similar to that shown in. Fig. 5 with the valve mechanism shown in closed sition;

, Fig. is a side elevation of the apparatus Fig. 8 is'a plan section on the line 77 ofFig.7; f f v Fig. 9 is a view in elevation ofthe motion picturecamera or other photographic instrument; q

.Fig. 10 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the camera shown in 1 elevation Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view showing the clutch mechanism; and v Fig.- 12 is a cross section of the clutch mechanism atright angles to the view shown in Fig. 11.

As illustrated the ieference numeral 1 designates as a whole a supporting standard I 'havingupper and lower side beams 2-2,

transverse beams gi iyand end supports 4-4. Bearings 5-5 are mounted on the transverse beams 33 near one side of the supporting standard and receive a shaft 6 journaled in 'said bearings. The. shaft 6 has aseries of gears 77, adjacent the point where the shaft is journaled on the bearings 5 -5, adapted to mesh with gears 88'1nounted on shafts 99 which are mounted at right angles to the shaft 6 (Fig. 10). Suitable bearings 10 are provided at spaced intervals.

along the side beams 2 -2 of the supporting stan the said bearings 10. Fixed on one end of each of the shafts 9 is an intermittent ear wheel 11 which has a few gear teeth 12 ig. 7). The number ofshafts 9 and likewise the ard 1 and the shafts 6 are journaled in iiumber of intermittent gears '11 will determine the spacing of the gear teeth 12 cm the various rs but referably and as shown four such s afts bn gear wheels are provided and the gear teeth 12 are located on the respective gear wheels at positions angularly spaced 120 apart. The eft-liand shaft 9, (Fig. 1), on its end opposed to. the end carrying the intermittent gear 11,'has a ear 13 mounted thereon the purpose of av ich will be hereinafter explained.

On top of the upper beams 2 of the su l portingstandard 1, at points immediately above the shafts 9 are located a'number of opposed bearingmembers 14 and '15 which i receive tubular shaft members 16 rigidly carrying a/ series of hollow plates 17. The

bearing members 14 and 15 have flanges 18- directly engaging the top of the beams 2 and suitably held in engagement therewith through the medium of the bolts 19. Each end of the bearing 14 has counterbores containing packing 20 held in place by packing glands 21 (Figs. 2 and 3) so that an airti ht joint is formed between the hollow tubular shaft 16 and its bearing member 14. On the end of each of the hollow tubular shafts 16 adjacent its bearing 14 there is suitably mounted a gear 22 having teeth Corresponding in number to and adapted to mesh with the teeth 12 on the intermittent gear 11. A lug 23 projects alongside each gear 22 in position to contact with apin 24 projecting from the side of the corresponding intermittent gear 11 to start the gears 1n mesh. I

The shaft 16 is rotatably mounted in its bearings 14 and 15 and is adapted to swing with its plates 17 through an arc of almost 180 when the teeth 12 of the intermittent gear 11 engage the teeth of the gear 22. A coil spring 49 is located on each shaft 16 between the bearing 15 and a nut 44 on the extreme end of the shaft, opposite ends of the spring being anchored to the bearing and shaft respectively. The spring is tensioned when its shaft is moved from its normal position (Fig. to the other extreme position (Fig. 6) so that the spring,

- minute openings 28 in their upper surface so that air drawn through the main line 25 will cause a suction or partial vacuum through the several conduits 26, tubular shafts 16 and hollow plates 17 with the re- .sult that any article placed on the plates 17 will closely adhere to the surface of said plates. The plates 17 are divided into a series of sections by the partitions 17' so that each plate will accmmuodate a number of checks or other articles and separately maintain said checks or articles in position on each section of the plate free from the influence of the air suctionin other sections of the plate. Each of the conduits 26 has its upper end in screw-threaded en agement with the base of the bearing mem er 14 as clearlyshown 1n Fig. 5 and 1s in open comn I o s mumcatlon with arecess 29 formed 1n sald bearing member. Each tubular shaft 16 communication with said 'reces 29 so t at as heretofore stated open communication is established between the main air line 25 and the hollow plates 17 However, the opening 30 is adapted to be shut off from communication with the recess 29, conduits 26 and air line 25, by reason of the eccentric interior wall of the recess 29 closing the said opening 30 when the rotatable tubular shaft 16 is moved from its normal position to its will of the operator through a clutch mecha-' nism designated as a whole by the numeral 32. This clutch mechanism consists of a bearing member 33 mounted directly on the shaft 31 and having lugs or projections 34 concentric with androtatable in a housing 35. The lugs34 have recesses 36 containing springs 37 which press on rollers 38 located between the bearing member 33 and the inner wall ofthe housing 35. The shaft 31 is rigidly attached to the'baring 33 by means of the pin 37 while the shaft 6is rigidly attached to the housing by a pin 38 similar "to the pin 37. On the outer periphery of the housing 35 there is located an ear adapted to be engaged by the end oflan arm 41 of the lever which is pivotally mounted in a supportin member 42 attached to the,

standard 1. spring 43 is attached at one end to the lower end of the arm 41 of the lever 40 and at'its other end to a porhotwecn is of greatestwidth thus causing a negligil'ilc amount of friction between the rollers 38 and the interior wall of the housing 35. When, however, the arm 41 is disengaged from the projection 39.the rollers '38 will be advanced by the springs 37 and frictionally' grip the housing 35 so that said housing 35 and its shaft 6 will rotate with the bearig 33 and its shaft 31. 'Motive power from the shaft\31 may therefore be also has an opening 30*normally in o n i transmitted to the shaft 6 at the will of the operator handling the" lever 40. By'shifting lever 41 to disengage projection 39 and then releasing the'lever the shaft 6 is turned 360" and then stopped automatically byprojection 39 again engaging lever 41.

A motion picture camera or other photographic instrument is mounted on a supportingbase 46 attached to the supportin standard 1. The camera is so mounted/and has a focal distance sufficient to include as checks on plate 17 to plate 17,

- side of each checkjs photogr revolution of an image the two last plates 17. The a'mera 45 is synchronized with the drivin mocha-1 nisinto make one'exposurefor eac revolution of the ars 11'and at the proper instant as hereinafter described.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 11 and the oscillatory plates 17 and17 to be covered with checks facing. upwardl and plate 17? to be -cov.- ered with: che'c s facing-downwardly, the operation is as follows: The starting lever 41 is shifted to the left (Fig. 11) permitting the, gears 12, 12",,12", 12 to make one complete revolution During the first fraction of the first one-third revolution the plates, 17, and 17 are turned over, to transfer the checks thereon to plate 17 and the traveling conveyor 50 respectively, the air suction bein automatically cut off where the plates reaci positions such as shownin Fig. 6 to permit the checks to fall in reversed osition. After gears 12" and 12 pass by t e gears 22 and 22 the plates 17" and 17 are snapped back to normal position by theirYsprings. During the first fraction of the second one third revolution of gears 12' to 12 the gear 12 engages the gear 22 and transfers the the checks being reversed in the transfer. During the first fraction of the last one-third revolution of gears 12' to 12 the gear 12" engagesv ear 22 and transfers the checks from plate 17 to 17. During'the latter part of the ears,12" to 12 after plate 17 has snapped ack ,to normal position,'the camera 18 actuated to make an exposure of the checks on plates 17 6 and 17 If theoper ator can cover plate .17 with new checks between the-time it returns to normal position and the end of the revplution of gears 12 and 12 the machine may'be permitted to continue with another cycle; otherwise lever 41 is caused to stop the machine at the end of each revolution until such time as plate 17 is again covered. In this way each aphed and by suitably timing the machine to the speed of the operator it may. run continually.

Numerous changes in details of'construction and arrangement of parts maybe effected without departing from the spirit 0 the invention, especially as defined by the appended claims and althoughthe invention been'described in connection with an a opposite it is not limited exclusively thereto but be employed for other purposes requir-- that' may ing the conveyance and simultaneous reversing of an article or articles along a predetermined path.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising means for progressively conveying a; series of sheets of paper or the like along a predetermined course, automatic means forreversing said sheets during said movement, and photographic means connected in synchronism therewitlrfor photographing both sides of the sheets during their movement.

2. In apparatus for photographing both sides of an article, a camera and conveyor, said conveyor being adapted to automatically to reverse the article so that both sides are in turn exposed to the camera, means synchronously actuating said camera during each of said periods of exposure, means for positively holding the. article on said conveying means during its travel therealong and means for subsequently releasing the article therefrom.

3. Apparatus for photographing both sides of an article comprising a series of pivotally mounted plates adapted to carry tliearticle, means for successively turning the plates .so that from one plate to the next plate in reversed position and a camera in synchronized relaarticle is photographed during its period of travel. 1

4 Apparatus for photographing both sides of a series of sheets, comprising a progres'sive conve or mechanism adapted to receive a row 0 along a given path, reversing them during said movement while retaining them in the same relative position as when received, photographic means synchronously connected to said conveyor to photograph the sheets both in theiroriginal and their reversed positions in immediate juxtaposition to each other.

5. Apparatus for photographing both sides of successive series of sheets of paper or the like, comprising progressive conveyor mechanism adapted to receive a series of sheets-in an original position with one side exposed and to reverse the series of sheets from their original position so that their sides are exposed while receiving the succeeding series of sheets in the first position, and photographic means synchronized with the conveyor mechanism simulsaid article is transferred tion with the plates so that each side of the 7 said sheets and convey them, 1

taneously to photograph succeeding series of 1 sides of a series of articles comprisin conveying mechanism adapted to simu taneously carry said articles along a predetermined path and alternately reverse said articles and photographic means synchronized in relatlon with the conveying mechanism to photograph both sides of the articles during the conveyance of same.

7. Apparatus for photographing both sides of a seriesof articles comprising a series of successively arranged and pivotally mounted plates adapted to retain said articles, means for alternately moving said plates whereby said articles are alternately reversed and carried therealong, and photographic means in synchronized relation with said plates whereby both sides ofeach article are photographed. a

g 8. Apparatr1 s for photographing both sides of a series of articles comprising a ally mounted plates adapted to receive said articles, means for alternately moving said plates through a path describing a semicircle whereby said articles are alternately reversed and moved from plate to plate, means automatically returning the plates to their original position, and photographic means in synchronized relation with said plates whereby both sides of each article are photographed.

10.Apparatus' for photographingboth sides of a series of articles comprising a series of successively arranged and pivotally mounted platesadapted to receive said articles, means for alternately moving said plates through a path. describing a semi circle whereby said articles are alternately reversed and movedfrom plate to plate, means positively holding the articles on the plates during the major portion of their travel thereon and automatically releasing the articles at, the end of said travel, means returning the plates to their original position and photographic means synchronized in relation thereto whereby both sides of each article are photographed. V lLApparatus for photographing both sides of a check or other article comprising a series oiprogressively arranged and ivotally mounted hollow plates carrying ciecks or other articles, means for rotating said plates through an arc of 180 degrees, so that said checks or articles are progressively moved along the plates, spring means for returning the plates to their original position, clutch'mechanism for disengaging the plates from their motive power at will and synchronized photographic means whereby both sides of the. checks are photographed during their progressive travel along the plate Signed by me at. Boston, Massachusetts, this 11th day of June, 1925.

J JACOB J. KAPLAN. 

